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I've been familiar with you work for decades now but I think you've been hanging around with the NORML folk waaaay too long. But the last thing I want to do is prejudge the following comment you made:

================= Professor Grinspoon On The “Crazy Stoner” Claims About Cannabis And Cancer (06/11/2012) ‘I think the day will come when it or some cannabinoid derivatives will be demonstrated to have cancer curative powers, but in the meantime, we must be very cautious about what we promise these patients.” This quote (above) from Harvard Professor Lester Grinspoon is "code" for "let's just give Cannabis over to Big Pharma." To me this is proof that Prof. Grinspoon needs to retire. Cannabis is one of natures gift to mankind and the last thing we want to allow, is for Big Pharma to monopolize the market, especially given that Big Pharma has been funding DARE and other Anti-Marijuana groups for decades. In my, not so humble opinion, we need to be extremely wary of the advice of "Ivy League" elitists, such as Grinspoon and Miron, baring "gifts." Bruce Cain http://www.clear-uk.org/ professor-grinspoon-on-the-craz y-stoner-claims-about-cannabis -and-cancer/

I think the "problem" with Grinspoon is that he's been hanging out with the "tax and regulate" folk at NORML for far too long. And taxing and regulating our inalienable right to grow, gift or sell our overage is neither "normal" nor will we ever accept such bullshit,.

At any rate the commentary (above) is what I posted to my various FaceBook groups.

At the end of this letter I will send you some links to better understand where I'm coming from, regarding Cannabis Policy, but I really do respect your work and I want to give you every opportunity to clarify your position.

I have been involved in "drug reform" since I first smoked my first "joint" at the tender age of 14 — the same year I took my first dose of LSD. Before my "initiation" I was probably reading Huxeley's "Door of Perception" at the age of 13. That was in 1968. In 1989 I began publishing a magazine on drug policy ("New Age Patriot"). That was the same year that I met Jack Herer and I had regularly corresponded with Jack until his death at HempStalk in 2009. In 1993 I was invited to be on a panel with Tim Leary but was unable to attend. That is one of my great regrets. In 2010 I orchestrated a group of activists, attorneys to defeat Prop19. And while it would be silly to take full credit I am quite sure we had a significant effect on its defeat. And, of course, I'm always delighted when I can rob scum, like George Soros, of a couple million dollars.

At any rate I just want you to know that I'm not some burnt out stoner. I also want to make clear that I will never accept the monopolization of Cannabis production and distribution to either Monsanto or Big Pharma.

I am not providing this background to be boastful or smart. I'm providing this background because I want to make it crystal clear what my perspective is on Cannabis.

So what I would like you to do is clarify your position on the "ideal" model for ending Marijuana Prohibition. To do that I will summarize my position and I would like you to respond by clarifying your position. So here we go . . . .

If you ever read Jack Herer's "The Emperor Wears No Clothes" carefully you would understand that racism, motor skill impairment etc. were not the real reason that Marijuana become illegal in 1938. The primary reason, for the passage of the "Marijuana Tax Act" (1938) was that Cannabis was a threat to the Oil, Paper and Synthetics Industry. During the next 75 years we were lied to. But the global architects (Rockefeller, Rothchild, the UN etc.) saw a big problem: it was inevitable that public opinion would eventually shift toward Marijuana Legalization. And in fact it did. According to Gallup polling data support for Marijuana Legalization went from about 12% in 1969 to about 56% today (2012). "What to do" is what I imagine they must have been saying.

So "what they did" was finance Prop215 in 1996. George Soros was the main backer. By doing this they restricted discussion to the "medical use" of Cannabis. Then, over the next 16 years they (e.g., George Soros, Lewis, Sperling) began financing these "Medical Marijuana Initiatives" which were specifically laden with their own "poison pills." And most recently we saw a spate of "tax and regulate" initiatives that pretended to legalize Marijuana but which were really focused on the following agenda:

(1) First push out the "home grower" in favor of the large dispensaries (2) Second push out the large dispensaries in favor of Big Pharma Companies like GW Pharmeceutical (e.g. Sativex)

And so what these architects were really engineering was the "manufacture of consent" for a new from of Neo-Prohibtion which would continue to feed the Prison Industrial Complex with home growers while restricting the production and distribution of Cannabinoid "drugs" to Big Pharma. And according to my brief Google search you are in support of some of these "tax, regulate and control" initiatives.

So with this very brief exposition, of the last 75+ years of Marijuana Policy, I would like you to respond to a very simple question.

Question: Given that Cannabis is the safest therapeutic substance known to man (quote from DEA administrative law judge in 1989) why should any adult be restricted from growing it, gifting it and even selling it without any tax, regulation or government control? After all is it not a form of "moral hazard" to reward those that have been lying to us, imprisoning us, arresting us, stealing our property, restricting us from college grants etc. to now become the ones producing, distributing and profiting from Marijuana. In other words does it not make more sense to treat it like beer — which we can produce unrestricted in our homes — rather than like hard liquor that can only be produced by the alcohol monopolies.

Your response to this question will be much appreciated. And given your stature in this movement you need to understand that blessing a "no tax, no regulate, no government control" model could very well destroy the ambitions of the Central Banks and Global Corporations that are set to "nudge" us toward a One World Corporate Fascist State.

Yes, I'm quite sure that last sentence gave you some pause. But I knew Jack Herer very well and he was absolutely correct: Hemp Can Save the Planet. He also saw the parallels between Nazi Germany and our country well before Naomi Klien wrote "The Shock Doctrine." The first edition of "The Emperor" was published in 1985.

I used to kid Jack about "Hemp Saving the Planet," saying it was perhaps a bit "over-puffed." But the fact of the matter is hemp biomass is capable of replacing oil, and thousands of other products currently monopolized by large Global Corporations. And as this "Petro Corporate Ponzi" Epoch, come crashing to the ground in the next few years, we are going to need to grow something locally that can provide us with the food, fiber and other products necessary for our survival. After all there is no way you can sustain a exponential growth model forever within a finite universe. At some point we have to work toward a static state of long term sustainability.

We don't want to end up like the sheep envisions by Kissinger who once said 'If we can control the food supply we can control the people.'

We don't want to end up in a new state of feudalism envisioned by Rockefeller when he said "Competition is a sin." [What he meant was he wanted to monopolize everything].

What I think we both want and need is an eclectic model envisioned by Jefferson's notion of the Yeoman Farmer: smart, mindful of his place in the universe and as independent of global entanglements as possible.

I look forward to your response to my question.

Yours in Peace and Freedom,

Bruce W. Cain

====================== Here are some links to some of my writings, lectures and videos:

"The illusion of freedom will continue as long as it's profitable to continue the illusion. At the point where the illusion becomes too expensive to maintain, they will just take down the scenery, they will pull back the curtains, they will move the tables and chairs out of the way and you will see the brick wall at the back of the theatre." Frank Zappa.

Please join my FB group by clicking on the first link below. Spread the word:

Sweeping 1st, 2nd & 3rd Place in Highest CBD at the 1st THC Cup in Downtown LA on July 14th & 15th, raised awareness of top growers around the globe to growing cannabis with higher levels of CBD. CBDs don't get you high, but have unknown health benefits. "I think what surprised people is that the strain containing the 3rd Highest THC levels, was the also the 2nd Highest in CBD levels. Strain Entries include Free Testing by Bud Genius, so this was the first time Rainbow Valley Farms had been lab tested in over forty years of organic growing and an Award-Winning Sweep is a Hemptastic Surpise for Richard Davis!" elaborated THC Cup emcee, Melissa "white chocolate" Balin. Curator of the USA Hemp Museum, and Founder of Rainbow Valley Farm, Richard Davis, was on hand to answer questions and give hourly tours of the Museum. Founder of the THC Cup, Brian Roberts explains, "The THC Cup will take place every two months in various regions across California in search of the highest quality, consistency, and a positive collective experience. As part of their prize package, Winners will receive free testing from THC Cup Co-Branding Lab Partner Bud Genius, so we can look forward to more exciting patient field research on how THC and CBD levels affect our quality of living as a preventative medicine."

For the Winners of the People's Vote & the VIP Cup, and for information on how to enter your Cream of the Crops into the THC Cup Strain Hall of Fame, please log on to http://www.THCCup.com The Next THC Cup will take place on September 15th & 16th in Hollywood!

Richard Davis's USA Hemp Museum is now open in Los Angeles on Saturday and Sunday, summer days and hours, from noon to 6 pm. It is located at 1358 S. Flower Street near the Staples Center. Call the curator, Richard Davis, at(phone#-removed) for special times or requests. This museum boasts a treasure trove of collected artifacts in information. See the online museum at http://www.hempmuseum.us. Don't miss this!

Will, Please don't mislead people when you say the Restrictive Permitted Dispensary Mother Earth, for whom ASA was known to set up and Bob Reidel is Dion Markgraafs high school buddy as well as Bob hanging closely with Duncan and last years Harvest Cup, it was well known over there at city council and county board that Davidovich was looking for a front man for a Duncan – ASA investment.

This was not the only option

If it was the only option Don Duncan would not have been caught on film actively lobbying that the way to shut down all the stores was to enact "restrictive permitting"

It is his pot monopoly SCAM and I am disappointed that you have joined that cult

Eugene Davidovich smeared the Hope Group, spread rumors that there was child porn on Aarons computer, this is why the Hope group was disbanded. This was to give Eugene the power to work his lies

NORML was disbanded as they worked to get an iniative on the ballot that would allow level 2 and 3 zoning. But Eugene – ASA with Don Duncans full backing and blessing had Larry Sweet, Tiffani Kjeldergaard, Dan Murphy – ASA Director, Terri Best, and Adela Falk harass, intimidate, smear, spread rumors and disrupt meetings intently and with purpose. These people got together and with a few pawns wrote letters and lies to NORML and accused Craig of FINANCIAL EMBEZZLEMENT basically. THIS WAS ALL DONE AT EUGENE'S DIRECTION AND THE WEEK NORML DISBANDED DON DUNCAN PROMOTED EUGENE.

INCIDENTALLY NOTHING ASA DOES IS TO ENCOURAGE PATIENT GROWS IN FACT STEPH SHERER WAS FILMED AT THE "UNITY" Conference ridiculing that.

ASA is nothing more than a lobby for Restrictive permitting, Harborside etc.

It is because of ASA that there is no zoning in San Diego.

And as far as Mother Earth sharing facial recognition video and photos, transactions and amounts with the sheriffs. I talked with the software company and they had several meetings with the sheriffs in order to make the software so that the sheriffs could easily access THE ADDRESS OF EVERY GROWER AND VENDOR THAT GOES THERE.

ONE OF THE LARGEST PROBLEMS WITH THAT IS THAT MOTHER EARTH IS LYING TO PEOPLE ABOUT IT.

As the City Beat article pointed out, one month AFTER theWeedlyNews had been running the story, the membership agreement for Mother Earth merely states, "we comply with county code xxxx". They are purposely NOT informing patients and growers that their addresses and the amount they grow is being shared with law enforcement, and as we know law enforcement has their own agenda.

Because of this controversy I sent a patient into mother earth. This patient was lied to when asked. I sent this patient back to Mother Earth with more specific information including a printout of the zoning. THEY WERE LIED TO AGAIN BY MOTHER EARTH as to this issue.

Bob Reidal was quoted by two verified sources as stating that the understanding was that the City Attorney in San Diego would be shutting down all the 200 stores and he did not know what was taking so long as they expected then to have all that business funneled to them.

Don Duncan and friends stand to make millions. I am not sure how much you are making. Probably nothing, nice guy that you are.

I also sent you Dan Rush UFCW – and ASA's new "marriage partner" by his own admissions, email stating, "PRESERVING PROP 215 IS…RIDICULOUS"

I watched the videos from the Sac "Unity Conference" as the real message to patients and other groups was, "SHUT UP AND LET US DO THE TALKING", By which they tried to get ab2312 passed which would grandfather in ASA'S RESTRICTIVE PERMIT stores and CREATE NEW PRISON SENTENCES FOR COLLECTIVE WHO DO NOT HOLD THIS GOLDENT PERMIT.

ASA is as dangerous to real patient collectives as the Federal government itself. But then of course, Steph Sherer has been trying to obtain some kind of exclusive distribution for herself and her buddies at the expense of all the patients and consumers in the State of California anyway right?

Anybody who would support ASA after that should come out and admit that they are not about patients, they are not about small collectives, they are a lobby who wants to infiltrate, turn over, have arrested and destroy California's people's cannabis distribution networks and TAKE THEM OVER FOR PURELY FINANCIAL REASONS.

Any patient who supports ASA should understand that pot monopolies DO NOT HELP PATIENTS. Why should people be forced to buy cannabis from and ASA store?

And the obvious direction bottlenecking and monopolies would head of course is to then be sold off to Monsanto or other Mega Corps and even Debbie Goldsberry admits that is where that would head.

So, let's address the childish ASA strategy of ASA "leaders" of which you are apparently now one using blueprint tactics to shame activists, "you are a bad activist" accuse people of not doing something, "well I didn't see you there" taking credit for many lawsuits ASA had nothing to do with running their groups so people do not understand restrictive permitting running their groups so people do not understand outside the local level, "ie it's all Bonnies fault" I could go on, but I am an adult and see right through ASA manipulation and their financially motivated agenda.

And I am not afraid to expose it. I wasted 3 years in ASA meetings. After ASA's Eugene Davidovich threatened to kill me and I wrote about it on Facebook I received so many letters that is was clear the same activities iniated by ASA of intimidation, harassment and smear campaigns IN ORDER TO SECURE ZONING/RESTRICTIVE PERMITTING for their investors has and was occuring in city after city.

And far from being loved, the are not. You would be surprised at the well known movers and shakers of this movement who believe Duncan made deals with the FEDS years ago in order to operate his stores, while exchanging information, of which ASA had collective much.

ASA is described by one of the most well known activists in the world in a letter to me, "ASA is the darkside of this movement".

Will, and others.

Wake up. Do your own research. Put out letters to people in other cities. ASA is not a patient advocacy group.

ASA is a lobby created to further the financial interests of Don Duncan, Stephen DAngelo, and several others. They do this by restrictive permitting.

And as you saw in Mr D'Angelo's article in a public news organization last week, he is more than happy to accuse people, patients and collectives who do not have his coveted permit of being "shady street corner dealers" and "the city attorney should just close down them".

Will, I spent hours writing up a REAL PATIENT COLLECTIVE. It was approved. But guess what? No Investors. Why? No Return. I know for a fact that their are "investors" for Mother Earth and that they are contractually guaranteed a return on PROFITS.

So now that we have established that ASA is actually nothing to do with medical marijuana or patients and everything to do with MONEY, what are YOU going to to do about it?

Donna

Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2012 4:15 PM

San Bernardino County did the same thing as did S.D.'s Board of Supervisors. After ti lost, an S. B. resident sued teh County of S.B. to force it to issue teh ID cards. That person, Scott Bledsoe, just e-mailed me, in response to my e-mail about ASA, to ask if I knew that Don Duncan had tried to DISCOURAGE him from suing to force the County to issue ID cards. (I'm b-cc copying Scott with this e-mail; I'll leave it up to him if he wants tog et in touch with you.) Why would ASA do that?

When S.D. "crafted a County Ordinance severely restricting Dispensaries (it was a defacto ban).," Did ASA ever consider suing over that ban? And don't say, "why didn't you (Letitia) do that" because I didn't know anything about medical marijuana at that time, and wasn't active on these issues but on other issues.

Just because local governments try to impede access does not mean that ASA has not also been trying to "shape" what access there is. I don't agree that ASA is broadly supporting of any and all safe access to MJJ. "Strategy" to obtain SOME access is NOT a separate issue.

>We have all been duped by ASA >This scam has happened in city after city >ASA sponsors schools and shady lawyers to encourage people to open small stores and then goes to the local government to shut you all down and they will help in exchange for a restrictive permit so they can be the only ones to sell marijuana. ASA front stores are BPG, Harborside, LAPCG, MOTHER EARTH EL CAJON, Desert Organic Solutions store in Palm Springs, Santa Barbara and Venice Beach. Combined these stores bring in an estimate $150 million per year. As you can see by reading pages 11-17 in the county code briefly cited by shit attorney Lance Rogers, Mother Earth El Cajon had agreed to turn in all growers and their addresses to the law enforcement without their knowledge or consent. Lance Rogers is an asshole and does not represent this movement. In fact, if you used him to set up your store you should file a bar complaint to soliciting clients, conflict of interest, advice to conduct illegal business. ASA is nothing more than a lobby that uses people as human cannon fodder to set up RESTRICTIVE PERMITS for their wealthy investors. Need proof? We have it.

To top everything off Letitia, I spent hours with both prop 215 and sb420 and wrote up a model collective. I submitted to the San Diego County Sheriff which submitted it to their legal board and IT WAS APPROVED. They were very happy about it.

One major problem. There was no profit in it. So there would be no "investors". It would really be a collective for patients and by patients. Hence, it could never afford the hurdles to go through the Restrictive permitting process.

So there Duncan is on film actually telling the SD City Council that the way to shut down all the stores is to enact restrictive permitting so most of them would never be able to qualify.

But what about the real collectives, the real patients and the people just growing in their homes. Well apparently Duncan does not like them either because he has backed death threats, group stalking, theft of database from storefront by ASA, computer hacking by ASA, smear campaigns by ASA against a medical marijuana patient support group where Davidovich led a campaign informing the entire community that the leader was a pedophile. He was not but the group was destroyed and disbanded. Then he led a smear campaign against Craig Beresh who was working to get a level 2 zoning measure on the ballot, The NORML group was overthrown and ASA actually announced Davidovich promotion that week. When the NORML group was allowed to start again, ASA leaders came in and disrupted the first two meetings so I dont think they are really meeting anymore. Remember that Don Duncan is backing all this and has been updated every step of the way.

When I put it all on facebook I received literally dozens of letters about similar ASA activity in other cities.

Last year former ASA leader Dion Markgraff (whose high school buddy Bob Reidal is the front man OWNER of Mother Earth) asked to visit me. One of the first things he said was, "We don't know why your still in this we usually get rid of people before now". Dion then proceeded to spend 4 hours at my house, telling me Don Duncan asked him to come visit me in person and ask me to stop talking about "Mother Earth". Everybody who taked regularly at city council and county board knew Eugene was constantly soliciting for a "front man" for "one investment" for "Don Duncan-ASA".

And they did it. The big scam. Encourage people to rise up and offer them as collateral in exchange for their restrictive permitting. If people finally begin to understand what is really going we can then redirect this movement before they attempt for a second time to overthrow prop 215.

As their new marriage partner (by his words) Dan Rush of the UFCW stated, "preserving prop 215 is…ridiculous".

The writing is on the wall. What are we going to do about it?

Donna Lambert

Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2012 8:55 PM

Dear Patients, Friends and Family Members; I am forwarding information from people who think that ASA is not helping patients, and is actually conspiring to hurt them. It's at the end of my e-mail message. In the past, I myself have sent out some e-mails critical of ASA and Don Duncan's activities supposedly on patients' behalf. For example, ASA, instead of coming out AGAINST Prop. 19, which would have destroyed individual patients' right to cultivate cannabis for themselves – a fundamental human right to grow plants for food, fiber and medicine — was supposedly "NEUTRAL." But worse than that, ASA wasn't really neutral. At all events where there was an ASA booth, I always saw "Yes on 19!" signs posted, even though I complained. Now ASA has been lobbying for LIMITED numbers of dispensaries in cities, instead of simply opposing the illegal bans of dispensaries. ASA has been doing so in many places, including San Diego, the source of the forwarded message. If you are a patient, BANNING dispensaries is BAD, and so is limiting numbers of dispensaries and therefore competition! Competition is good for consumers, and that is what patients are: consumers. Competition brings down prices, provides greater variety and better service, and provides broader access. There is no advantage to patients in limiting competition! Furthermore, cities and counties do not limit pharmacies! There are Walgreens and RiteAids right across the street from each other! People who choose cannabis over prescription drugs have the right, under equal protection of the law, to the same kind of competition among dispensaries as among pharmacies. Do not be brainwashed into thinking that begging for limitations on your access to cannabis is a GOOD thing! It is not! Organizations that want to help patients should be trying to increase access, not limit it. Forwarded is an e-mail from some folks in San Diego, Donna Lambert and William Weedly, who fought, with Craig Berash and others, against ASA's efforts to limit dispensaries in San Diego. Just because ASA has done some good things does not mean that everything it asks you to do is a good idea. ASA is basically run by one person, Don Duncan, and he, like any person, can have his own agenda. Don Duncan has told people that he is not even a patient. So, unless you are disabled and living on a fixed, small income, maybe you can't really appreciate the cost benefits of competition. Be an informed consumer. Protect yourself and your legal rights; don't give them away. And don't give them to the government! This country was founded on the idea that INDIVIDUAL rights are critical to a free society AND that fair and square competition is a GOOD thing. Monopolies are bad; government-sponsored monopolies are TERRIBLE. Remember: the definition of Fascism is Big Government hand-in-glove with Big Business.

P.S. Thank you to everyone who showed up at the San Bernardino County, anti-outdoor-cultivation, anti-dispensary hearing on June 15, 2012: ti made a HUGE difference to have such a great audience! No decision from the judge yet, but he said it would be within 60 days, so by August 15 or so. The next hearing will be an August 13, 2012 8:30 a.m. case management conference in Dept. S-32. We will just be setting the schedule to submit arguments on related issues, e.g., about how the County violated patients' free speech rights at the hearings on the anti-cultivation/dispensary ordinance.

>View it in your browser.

>We have all been duped by ASA >This scam has happened in city after cityASA sponsors schools and shady lawyers to encourage people to open small stores and then goes to the local government to shut you all down and they will help in exchange for a restrictive permit so they can be the only ones to sell marijuana. ASA front stores are BPG, Harborside, LAPCG, MOTHER EARTH EL CAJON, Desert Organic Solutions store in Palm Springs, Santa Barbara and Venice Beach. Combined these stores bring in an estimate $150 million per year. As you can see by reading pages 11-17 in the county code briefly cited by shit attorney Lance Rogers, Mother Earth El Cajon had agreed to turn in all growers and their addresses to the law enforcement without their knowledge or consent. Lance Rogers is an asshole and does not represent this movement. In fact, if you used him to set up your store you should file a bar complaint to soliciting clients, conflict of interest, advice to conduct illegal business. ASA is nothing more than a lobby that uses people as human cannon fodder to set up RESTRICTIVE PERMITS for their wealthy investors. Need proof? We have it.

To the best of my knowledge, the lung is not a sack that you can just reach in and "scrape" oil out… I do believe it is more like a dense sponge, and to "scrape" oil out of a sponge would totally destroy it…. This is just my best hypothesis…

Breaking down Obama’s bullshit response…. Posted by Mickey Martin on April 26th, 2012 President Barrack Obama did an interview with Rolling Stone, and he was kind enough to kind of answer a question regarding his administration’s crackdown on medical cannabis dispensaries. The problem is his response is simply bullshit, and he knows it. I understand that there is a big political line to walk on this issue in this Country right now, and that there is an election happening; but at the same time I long for some fucking integrity at any level of Governement anywhere. As I wrote a couple of days ago in my piece entitled “Shut the fuck up, Obama and the rest of you assholes” the best thing the President could do, and should have done from the beginning, is SHUT THE FUCK UP. But instead, Barry wants to dig the hole a little deeper and piss off a few million more people by making circular statements with little real meaning in a weak attempt to appease both sides of the argument. If the President, or one of his staff, or anyone who knows the jay-cat personally is reading this…do me a favor. Tell Obama to “GROW A SACK OF NUTS” already. The Republicans have wiped their ass with his hope and change, and are trying to figure out how to derail his ass come November. The last thing he needs to do is to piss off the rest of us trying to make it seem like he has conservative chops. Either shut the fuck up, or skin that smokewagon. Nobody for a minute believes that deep down in your crusty little heart that you really think cannabis prohibition is working, or that medical marijuana is dangerous. It is just bullshit; and the longer you tow the party line to please your big business donors the more you will surely alienate those who believed you were better than that and worked hard to get you elected. We are not naive enough to fall for the dumb shit twice. The best thing you could have done is just shut the fuck up and passed on the question from Rolling Stone…but NOOOOOOO. You had to jump right in feet first and make a comment I can only define as fucking stupid. Here is a breakdown of the statement: FROM ROLLING STONE article Ready for the Fight by Jann S. Wenner: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/ready-for-the-fight-rolling-stone-interview-with-barack-obama-20120425?page=2 ROLLING STONE: Let me ask you about the War on Drugs. You vowed in 2008, when you were running for election, that you would not “use Justice Department resources to try and circumvent state laws about medical marijuana.” Yet we just ran a story that shows your administration is launching more raids on medical pot than the Bush administration did. What’s up with that? First of, let me give kudos to Jann Wenner for asking the question. She used his own words to point out the hypocrisy of his positions, and made him defend his record against Bush. I wish she would have nailed him with a follow up or two because his answer leaves a lot to be desired. Here is the breakdown sentence by sentence to illustrate why Obama is just full of shit on this issue…. Obama: Here’s what’s up: First off, knock off the coy “here’s what’s up” bullshit. What is up is that you continue the failed policies of the past and put poor kids in jail for weed every day just like the assholes before you. I witnessed it myself yesterday in Federal Court in Oakland. A poor kid was looking at 5 years for selling weed. So cut the dumb shit…that is “what’s up.” Obama: What I specifically said was that we were not going to prioritize prosecutions of persons who are using medical marijuana. Um…no asshole, that is not what you said. In fact, I would beg you to show me where you said that EVER. Below is the video of the interview where he makes the infamous “I will not be using justice department resources to circumvent state law on this issue, simply because I want folks to be investigating violent crimes and potential terrorism. We have got a lot of things for our law enforcement officers to deal with.” Nothing was more starkly clear that this was not happening than the day when 150 Federal officers raided the peaceful cannabis college of Oaksterdam University while across town a violent murder of 7 people at a another college was happening by a person set to terrorize the community. Were these officers focused on who sold him the guns, or how to stop this from happening again? Nope..they were wasting justice department resources circumventing state law and removing plants from an organization that was in full compliance with all local and state laws. Way to go asshole.

Now, granted, the wishy-washy interview from 2008 does also state that he is “not going to be spending a lot of political capital on this issue” and alludes to the fact that he was worried about people “growing their own and setting up little mom and pop shops” but he also states that “there really is no difference between a doctor prescribing that and morphine, or anything else.” His reasoning for not wanting to allow for growing your own, or mom and pop shops is because it becomes “fairly hard to regulate at that point.” Yet, many of the organizations he have targeted are some of the most heavily regulated in the State of California and Colorado, and there has been no distinction made. Furthermore, the Justice Department has severely threatened any state that has attempted to implement strict regulations and who have tried top control it properly, “just like morphine or any other drug.” Take New Jersey. for instance….one of the most tightly regulated programs in the Nation, and yet his US Attorneys have threatened to take state employees to jail for implementing the program and have expressed concerns because the law allows for cultivation centers. New Jersey’s program is likely more strict than any FDA regulations for medicine, yet there is no distinction made. You could say the same about Colorado’s model, and Arizona, and Rhode Island, and all of the states who have worked on, or are in the process of working on a system that is not “fairly hard to regulate.” Yet, the Justice Department continues to circumvent state laws by threatening to prosecute state emplyees who implement these regulations, which you stated was your original concern against growing your own and having mom and pop shops. Here is a newsflash asshole…..someone has to grow the cannabis for the patients, whom you say you are not targeting, to use safely. Otherwise you have thrown the sick and suffering to the wolves and have forced them into the black market for their cannabis medicines. What a dick… Obama: I never made a commitment that somehow we were going to give carte blanche to large-scale producers and operators of marijuana – and the reason is, because it’s against federal law. This is where your statements become muddled, bro. The now infamous Ogden Memo, issued by your Justice Department stated the Justice Department should not focus resources on “individuals whose actions are in clear and unambiguous compliance with existing state laws providing for the medical use of marijuana.” So, in essence, what you stated was that if “large-scale producers and operators” were in clear and unambiguous compliance with state law that they would not have to worry about being a target. This statement allowed for states, like Colorado, and local communities, such as Oakland and Mendocino, to pass “clear and unambiguous” regulations and to allow for large-scale producers of cannabis to exist. The memo issue by YOUR Justice Department is what set the stage for the massive expansion we have seen across the Country. So it is a bit disingenuous to act as if you never saw this coming. Can we agree that Chris Christie, the Governor of New Jersey and staunch opponent of your entire administration would not be considered some misinformed pot grower? Yet he signed into law a regulatory model that allowed for, you guessed it, “large-scale producers and operators.” So quit being a pussy already. Just say that the political blowback has caused my donor base to take notice and I had to do something if I wanted to be re-elected. That is the fucking truth. Acting as if you had no idea where this whole industry came from is just stupid and shallow. And what is worse is that if jackass does not think it should be “mom and pops” distributing it, but yet there should also not be large-scale producers and operators growing and distributing it, then just who the fuck IS supposed to be growing and distributing it to patients in need? The cartels? People with NO regulations in place? Is there a happy medium in there between “mom and pop” and “large-scale?” Is there a medium scale, semi-regulated model we should be exploring or some shit? Obama: I can’t nullify congressional law. Wrong again asshole. You may not be able to “nullify congressional law” but you can issue a Presidential Determination that would declare that enforcement of medical cannabis must stop. A Presidential Determination is a document issued by the White House stating a determination resulting in an official policy or position of the executive branch of the United States government. Presidential determinations may involve any number of actions, including setting or changing foreign policy,[1] setting drug enforcement policy,[2] or any number of other exercises of executive power. (Wikipedia) You could also issue this order as a National Security Directive, as obviously our wasted enforcement on this cause is wasting resources that could be used fighting illegal gun trafficking, or fighting terrorism. The more time, energy, and resources wasted kicking in doors of people like Oaksterdam, the less secure our Nation is. That is the bottom line. So spare me the bullshit about how you cannot nullify congressional law. Just like you have ordered the Justice Department to no longer prosecute the Defense of Marriage Act, you can direct them to no longer enforce the Controlled Substances Act where medical cannabis is concerned in states with laws allowing for it. You are just full of shit, player…. Obama: I can’t ask the Justice Department to say, “Ignore completely a federal law that’s on the books.” Yes You Can, asshole. That is an outright lie. What the fuck do you think “Commander In Chief” means? Just like the Justice Department stated that it would no longer defend the Defense of Marriage Act in court because it was unconstitutional, you could also refuse to enforce and prosecute licensed and regulated providers of cannabis medicines in states that allow for it. You have the power to instruct YOUR DOJ to do what YOU want. That is one of the perks of the job. Furthermore, US Attorney General Eric Holder, either on his own or in conjunction with you, could also instruct his DOJ staff to not enforce the laws against cannabis where medical cannabis laws are in place. The Controlled Substances Act also provides for a rulemaking process by which the United States Attorney General can reschedule cannabis administratively. So you actually CAN instruct your Justice Department to not only ignore the law, but to reschedule, or as I would hope, de-schedule cannabis because it is safe and helpful…and enjoyable. So spare us the “I can’t” bullshit…YES YOU CAN, motherfucker…and you should. Obama: What I can say is, “Use your prosecutorial discretion and properly prioritize your resources to go after things that are really doing folks damage.” So is that what you “can say,” or is that what you ARE saying. Because if that IS what you are saying then I would say your Justice Department has just told you to go fuck yourself. There is no one in America who thinks that medical marijuana is “really doing folks damage.” Nobody thinks that using resources to kick in the doors of those who provide medical cannabis to people and are regulated by their local or state governments are a “priority.” With all of the shit we face as a Nation, from gun violence, to rape, to murder, to border issues, to our food not being properly inspected, to our ports not being properly inspected, to hard drugs like crank, crack and heroin running rampant in the street THERE IS NO ONE IN THEIR RIGHT FUCKING MIND WHO THINKS MEDICAL CANNABIS ENFORCEMENT SHOULD BE A PRIORITY AT ALL EVER. So if you are clearly stating to the Justice Department to “Use your prosecutorial discretion and properly prioritize your resources to go after things that are really doing folks damage,” then let us just agree that they do not think very highly of your instruction over there, because they are using a gang of resources on low priority bullshit every day around this bitch… Obama: As a consequence, there haven’t been prosecutions of users of marijuana for medical purposes. Ummm… excuse me?…Look here gigantic asshole, I am sure the Feds never made a big priority of going after pot smokers. What they have made a priority of, to feed our ever-growing prison industrial complex, is busting growers and people who sell weed for huge mandatory minimum sentencing mostly targeted at poor communities. The fact that you ARE going after legitimate growers and providers of cannabis medicines is a direct attack on the “users,” or as we call them, “patients.” By attacking the folks who work hard to run above board and legitimate tax paying businesses so that these patients, who most cannot grow their own, have a safe, clean, and convenient place to get their medicine you directly attack those patients. No getting around that. By shutting down good providers you expand the market for illegal and immoral street dealers to sell weed to whoever, whenever, with zero oversight and you force patients to access their cannabis from often unsafe sources. So spare me the bullshit about how patients have not been targeted. Obama: The only tension that’s come up – and this gets hyped up a lot – is a murky area where you have large-scale, commercial operations that may supply medical marijuana users, but in some cases may also be supplying recreational users. You live in a bubble, jackass. The only tension that has come up is brought on by your army of paid thugs who have chosen to ignore your directives and have decided to enforce the shit out of your “murky area.” Ands it does not get “hyped up a lot.” I would say when sitting congressmen from your own party challenge your Attorney General to defend their enforcement actions of the House floor, it is a bit more than just some “tension.” If you have evidence of “recreational users” being supplied why is that never brought forth in any of your court proceedings or actions? And where does your DOJ get its medical degree from to decide who is a legitimate patient and who is just a recreational user?

To further that, when are we going to start raiding Walgreen’s, as they also supply medical patients but sometimes their products end up in the hands of recreational users…the difference is that often those situations end with some poor kid dead. Yet, we continue to pump billions of pills into our community with very little real oversight. So if where y0u draw the line is whether or not people are getting drugs under false pretenses, I would expect to see Bristol, Meyers, and Squibb raided any minute now, right? You are so full of shit…. Obama: In that situation, we put the Justice Department in a very difficult place if we’re telling them, “This is supposed to be against the law, but we want you to turn the other way.” That’s not something we’re going to do. Just as you told prosecutors to turn the other way where the Defense of Marriage Act is concerned, you could easily do the same here. You just do not have the

—- That infamous UCLA Head and Neck Cancer Study (the one showing that Medical Cannabis causes Cancer).

—- Something about a 1947 Epilepsy Study that was published before Harry Anslinger even know what was going on.

—- The AARP censors an article on the subject of Medical Cannabis.

For those of you with some extra time, these cases do make for fun reading — but again, the website is meant mostly for active News Media, looking for a fast source of information on the subject of Censorship as it relates to Medical Cannabis.

Good article . Tnite sf democratic party passed a resolution spearheaded by gabriel haaland to hold Obama and eric holder and all democraticsin elected office to stand against crackdown. Members of comunity spoke .cathy smith brian webster cora glen denise dorey terrrie frye and steph tucker. all spoke well . What was interesting to note? who abstained from voting no member cast a vote against but … Fiona ma .boxer . Feinstein. And a few other high ranking elects wouldnt vote in favor . Will upload youtube of vote and comments.

And for the record, nobody ever said to attack our allies…..just to not march it out as a huge victory when that has not worked in the recent past. As Ammiano put it himself recently about Barack Obama…."Be a loyal opposition."

————————————————————————— How, and why, for real, would any of us want to oppose this bill? The irrational, illogical, counter-intuitive banter, which often passes for reasoning on this list, just completely baffles me at times…. Does anyone else remember a weekend about 12 years ago when AB 420 was being debated, and its author, then State Senator John Vasconcellos, actually spent three days on this list personally trying to persuade people to support it? He was abused with some of the most vile, hateful attacks I've ever seen heaped upon someone on this list, by people whom are still active on this list today. Has anyone learned from that mistake? Does anyone even remember it from the past?

Hello, people? Could we all just set aside our medicine long enough to think clearly about all this?

We only win if we support our allies and attack our enemies. It is the utmost lunacy to attack our allies, because it supports our enemies.

Those whom do not learn from history are doomed to repeat their mistakes. And one of the simplest definitions of insanity is to do the same thing over and over while expecting different results.

The many competing "initiatives" from this group is a very clear example of this insanity. All of the proposed pro-cannabis initiatives which failed to make the ballot were led by people who keep repeating the same mistakes, while expecting different results.

Almost all of them are my friends and allies, so I will not single out individuals — but when do we learn, people? When will enough of us quit abusing "medicine" long enough to get a clear enough head to figure all this out? Ever?

You all want to change the world? Start by changing the person in the mirror, and then be the change you want to see happen.

I agree. It was bad logic, likely. I just think sometimes our biggest enemy is ourselves and our willingness to put our small victories ahead of the bigger picture, at times. It will be seen how the bill fairs through the process. Probably damned if we do or damned if we do not, from the feedback I have gotten. The simple reasoning was that for the most part bills have been going against us, so maybe it was not in our interest to be too overly excited.

Many people have given good reason otherwise. I can accept their logical positions. Only time will tell. When organizations tell me they are looking towards 2014 and 2016 for solutions it becomes a bit more worrisome IMO….

————————————————————————— How, and why, for real, would any of us want to oppose this bill? The irrational, illogical, counter-intuitive banter, which often passes for reasoning on this list, just completely baffles me at times….

Does anyone else remember a weekend about 12 years ago when AB 420 was being debated, and its author, then State Senator John Vasconcellos, actually spent three days on this list personally trying to persuade people to support it?

He was abused with some of the most vile, hateful attacks I've ever seen heaped upon someone on this list, by people whom are still active on this list today. Has anyone learned from that mistake? Does anyone even remember it from the past?

Hello, people? Could we all just set aside our medicine long enough to think clearly about all this?

We only win if we support our allies and attack our enemies. It is the utmost lunacy to attack our allies, because it supports our enemies.

Those whom do not learn from history are doomed to repeat their mistakes. And one of the simplest definitions of insanity is to do the same thing over and over while expecting different results.

The many competing "initiatives" from this group is a very clear example of this insanity. All of the proposed pro-cannabis initiatives which failed to make the ballot were led by people who keep repeating the same mistakes, while expecting different results.

Almost all of them are my friends and allies, so I will not single out individuals — but when do we learn, people? When will enough of us quit abusing "medicine" long enough to get a clear enough head to figure all this out? Ever?

You all want to change the world? Start by changing the person in the mirror, and then be the change you want to see happen.

Now up — This is the case of how the LAPD got the Rand Corporation (a private think tank) to back down and censor a study that they did showing that Medical Cannabis dispensaries did NOT increase crime, but that in fact crime spiked up (a lot) shortly after they were closed down.

Here the museum needs the help of (anyone/everyone) out there — as there is a controversy over the study, can you see if there is anything wrong with the logic used to condemn the censorship — Can anyone spot any errors.

Your plans to celebrate 4/20 this Friday could actually make the government some money, if only such activities were legal. That's according to a bunch of economists, and some prominent ones too.

More than 300 economists, including three nobel laureates, have signed a petition <http://www.prohibitioncosts.org/endorsers.html>calling attention to the findings of a paper by Harvard economist Jeffrey Miron, which suggests that ifthe government legalized marijuana it would save $7.7 billion <http://www.prohibitioncosts.org/execsummary.html> annually by not having to enforce the current prohibition on the drug. The report added that legalization would save an additional $6 billion per year if the government taxed marijuana at rates similar to alcohol and tobacco.

While the economists don't directly call for pot legalization, the petition asks advocates on both sides to engage in an "open and honest debate" about the benefits of pot prohibition.

"At a minimum, this debate will force advocates of current policy to show that prohibition has benefits sufficient to justify the cost to taxpayers, foregone tax revenues, and numerous ancillary consequences that result from marijuana prohibition," the petition states <http://www.prohibitioncosts.org/endorsers.html>.

The economic benefits of pushing pot into mainstream commerce have long been cited as a reason to make the drug legal, and the economists' petition comes as government officials at both the federal and local levels are looking for ways to raise funds. The majority of Americans say they prefer cutting programs <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/17/spending-cuts-favored-majority-americans_n_1431063.html?ref=business> to increasing taxes as a way to deal with the nation's budget deficit — marijuana legalization would seemingly give the government money wtihout doing either.

Economist Stephen Easton wrote in /Businessweek/ that the financial benefits of pot legalization may be even bigger than Miron's findings estimate. Based on the amount of money he thinks it would take to produce and market legal marijuana, combined with an estimate of marijuana consumers, Eatson guesses that legalizing the drug could bring in $45 to $100 billion per year <http://www.businessweek.com/debateroom/archives/2010/03/legalize_mariju.html>. Easton's name doesn't appear on the petition.

Some argue that the economic argument for pot legalization is already proven by the benefits states and cities have reaped from making medical marijuana legal. Advocates for Colorado's medical marijuana industry argue that legalization has helped to jumpstart a stalled economy <http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/06/medical_marijuana_pot_nj_color.html> in cities like Boulder and Denver, according to nj.com.

The NNOAC – National Narcotic Officers' Associations' Coalition and the MMD Task-force are the creators of the Coalition for a Drug Free California.

This would be a great event to find out what they are planning. We really need both blatant pro-pot activists and some undercover stoners to attend. The more intel we can gather, the better chance we have at winning this war.

Medical cannabis patients and Americans for Safe Access (ASA) scored the first victory of the legislative cycle today when the Assembly Public Safety Committee approved AB 2312. This bill by Assemblymember Tom Ammiano (D-SF) will create statewide regulations for medical cannabis, prevent most bans on cooperatives and collectives, and limit the amount of tax cities and counties can add to patients' medicine. We have cleared the first hurdle. Can you help to support ASA today, so we have the resources to get AB 2312 adopted this year? [ http://www.americansforsafeaccess.org/donate ]

ASA is working with a coalition of patients, advocates, and organized labor to help turn the tide for medical cannabis in California. We are working with legislative staff to improve AB 2312 and rallying our grassroots base to support the bill. ASA members sent over 5,500 faxes through our online action alert in just eight days! Our letter of support for this bill was quoted as the primary argument in support in the committee's report. And today, coalition representatives and I sat side by side with Assemblymember Ammiano to testify in support of this important bill.

Today was a good day, but we have a long way to go. ASA needs your help right now to be sure we can fight for AB 2312 and be sure that we protect patients' access statewide. You can see that we can be effective. Take a minute right now to help us do more. [http://www.americansforsafeaccess.org/donate ]

I hope you will join hundreds of patients and advocates in Sacramento May 19-21 for the California Unity Conference [http://www.americansforsafeaccess.org/caunityconference ]. It will be your chance to participate hands-on in the effort to adopt AB 2312, support other good legislation, and stop bills that threaten safe access. Take a minute to register for the conference [http://tinyurl.com/6vhy5n7 ] right now. And don't forget to buy tickets [http://tinyurl.com/7vsauuz ] to ASA's 10-year Anniversary Gala Celebration on Saturday night, May 19.

Americans for Safe Access is the nation's largest organization of patients, medical professionals, scientists and concerned citizens promoting safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use and research.

In the plan released today, the Obama administration says that the “mass incarceration” of nonviolent drug users is an “outdated” policy. Instead, the White House says it is spending resources on preventing people from using drugs in the first place and helping users recover, because “drug addiction is a disease.”

President Obama’s new strategy to curb drug abuse takes the focus off of prison and puts it on treatment.

In the plan released today, the Obama administration says that the “mass incarceration” of nonviolent drug users is an “outdated” policy. Instead, the White House says it is spending resources on preventing people from using drugs in the first place and helping users recover, because “drug addiction is a disease.”

The administration also repeats, to the chagrin of advocates who have for years sought to make marijuana legal, that “legalization of drugs will not be considered.”

Obama’s drug czar, Gil Kerlikowske, told ABC News that Obama is “firm” on not favoring the legalization of illicit drugs, even as the new approach eases up on arrests of people who use drugs.

“I think what it does is reflect the realities of being smart on the drug problem rather than being soft on the drug problem,” Kerlikowske said.

The strategy also seeks to bring attention to the abuse of prescription drugs, not just illegal substances that are brought across the southern border. Kerlikowske said the administration will educate people on how to “clean out their medicine cabinet” and that it will “crack down on pill mills,” clinics that have sold drugs like Oxycodone.

The strategy aims to cut down on prison costs. Kerlikowske said around $9 billion in the federal budget is spent on domestic law enforcement related to drugs, and the goal is to lower that. But the administration wants to continue spending around $10 billion on prevention and treatment.

“We’re seeing not only alternatives to incarceration, but recognition that treatment for people who are incarcerated and have a drug problem is really critical,” Kerlikowske said.

Since Obama took office, he and his drug advisers have sought to do away with the “war on drugs” terminology, arguing that the phrase is used by people who want to make drugs legal. Though the strategy presented today isn’t centered on legalization concerns, it is likely to be the focus in the media and among advocates.

Groups trying to legalize marijuana routinely garner massive support online, pressuring Obama when he takes town-hall questions from Twitter, for example, or when the White House announced an online petition process to evaluate the public’s ideas.

Kerlikowske acknowledged the pressure but wrote it off as the result of a special interest

“The people that are involved in hoping to legalize drugs are very well funded,” he said. “They’re very organized, they have offices, they’re well supported, and with the push of a button, they can get as many signatures as they want, and we see that with a number of other special interest groups, so it’s not surprising.”

This is a mainstream issue. Polls show that more than 60 percent of Democrats and a solid majority of Independents believe marijuana should be treated like alcohol. A broad coalition is forming in support of Amendment 64 and I am proud to say that it now includes the Colorado Democratic Party.

Amendment 64 seeks to legalize marijuana for recreational use for adults and will appear on Colorado ballots this November. This will be the second time Coloradans will vote on recreational pot legislation — state voters considered and rejected a similar recreational pot legalization initiative in 2006 <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/27/colorados-marijuana-legal_n_1305079.html>. But Mason Tvert, co-director of the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, told The Huffington Post that Colorado has come a long way since 2006:

More Coloradans than ever before are aware of the fact that marijuana is not as dangerous as they have been led to believe and is actually far less harmful than alcohol. They have also seen firsthand via our medical marijuana system that it is possible for the state and localities to regulate and control the production and distribution of marijuana. They have read stories that quote law enforcement officials acknowledging that it has not contributed to crime or caused any significant problems. The environment here has changed dramatically.

Coloradans are even more strongly in favor of legalizing marijuana, and they overwhelmingly believe it at least should be available for medical purposes. 49% think marijuana use should generally be legal, and 40% illegal. But explicitly for medical use, that rises to a 68-25 spread. Just five years ago, a referendum to legalize simple possession by people over 21 failed by 20 points. On the medical question, Democratic support rises from 64% for general use to 78%; Republicans rise from 30% to 50%, and independents from 54% to 75%.

"In just the past couple months, support for Amendment 64 has been expressed by everyone from Pat Robertson <http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/08/us/pat-robertson-backs-legalizing-marijuana.html?_r=1> to Howard Stern <> and from the Colorado Democratic Party to a majority of Republican county delegates in Denver," Tvert went on to tell The Huffingotn Post. "We expect the list of supporters to continue growing as we move forward, and with such a broad base of support we are confident we can make history in Colorado this November."

Roger Christie imprisoned without bail or trial for over a year and a half for his spiritual belief in Cannabis wrote to ask about the nature of those who are so vehemently opposed to the plant. His question was answered by Mike Aiello refering to some studies on the nature of how humans deal with forbidden things it is very interesting and we need to take into account this psychological reality.

Hey there friends,

Aloha to thee. I seriously think that there needs to be a clinical term and recommended treatment for prohibitionists who deny Cannabis hemp for people (even their own families and themselves), one of the safest, natural, herbal, God-given remedies, medicine, optimum nutrition, cleaner-burning fuels, etc. I'm reminded of this as I read about today's hearing for a bill at the Hawaii State legislature that would deny patients suffering with chronic pain of their 'medical marijuana'. What's literally wrong with a person who will deny the provable goodness of Cannabis and let people suffering chronic pain go without what works for them? These people CAUSE great pain, malnutrition, suffering and death … and get away with it. What's literally WRONG with them?

In my opinion, psychiatrists (or anyone) need to come-up a clinical term with a suggested treatment plan that shows the scientific facts and the historic truth and can cure them of their narrow-mindedness and their hatred for humanity. They are dangerous predators of some kind. They walk-around like they're 'normal' people when, in part of their lives, they are directly causing horrible suffering by blocking real-world solutions. In my opinion, there needs to be a real scientific term and a recommended treatment plan. Am I missing something here?

Aloha to thee. I've been wondering how it's possible that so many people can demonize Cannabis hemp, a plant that I/we think is God's greatest plant gift to humanity. Enclosed might be the answer All the best to you,

Roger

:-p

@@@

—–Aiello, Mike on 2/11/2012 10:33 PM wrote:

Aloha Roger —

The clinical term is "cognitive dissonance", specifically, The Induced-Compliance Paradigm.

————————————

WIKI: Cognitive dissonance is a discomfort caused by holding conflicting cognitions (eg, ideas, beliefs, values, emotional reactions) simultaneously. In a state of dissonance, people may feel surprise, dread, guilt, anger, or embarrassment.[1] The theory of cognitive dissonance in social psychology proposes that people have a motivational drive to reduce dissonance by altering existing cognitions or adding new ones to create consistency.[1] The diagram to the right shows a new cognition being integrated into a person's belief system to resolve such a conflict. An example of this would be the conflict between wanting to smoke and knowing that smoking is unhealthy; a person may try to change their feelings about the odds that they will actually suffer the consequences, or they might add the consonant element that the smoking is worth short term benefits.

The phrase was coined by Leon Festinger in his 1956 book When Prophecy Fails, which chronicled the followers of a UFO cult as reality clashed with their fervent belief in an impending apocalypse.[2][3] Cognitive dissonance is one of the most influential and extensively studied theories in social psychology. Cognitive disequilibrium is a closely related concept in the cognitive developmental theory of Jean Piaget: the inevitable conflicts a child experiences between current beliefs and new information will lead to disequilibrium, which in turn motivates the child's progress through the various stages of development.

Cognitive dissonance theory warns that people have a bias to seek consonance among their cognitions. This bias gives the theory its predictive power, shedding light on otherwise puzzling irrational and even destructive behavior.

EXAMPLE of cognitive dissonance: The Fox and the Grapes by Aesop. When the fox fails to reach the grapes, he decides he does not want them after all. This is an example of adaptive preference formation, which serves to reduce cognitive dissonance.[4]

The Induced-Compliance Paradigm

In Festinger and Carlsmith's classic 1959 experiment, students were asked to spend an hour on boring and tedious tasks (eg, turning pegs a quarter turn, over and over again). The tasks were designed to generate a strong, negative attitude. Once the subjects had done this, the experimenters asked some of them to do a simple favor. They were asked to talk to another subject (actually an actor) and persuade the impostor that the tasks were interesting and engaging. Some participants were paid $20 (inflation adjusted to 2010, this equates to $150) for this favor, another group was paid $1 (or $7.50 in "2010 dollars"), and a control group was not asked to perform the favor.

After someone has performed dissonant behavior, they may find external consonant elements. A snake oil salesman may find a justification for promoting falsehoods (eg large personal gain), but may otherwise need to change his views about the falsehoods themselves.

When asked to rate the boring tasks at the conclusion of the study (not in the presence of the other "subject"), those in the $1 group rated them more positively than those in the $20 and control groups. This was explained by Festinger and Carlsmith as evidence for cognitive dissonance. The researchers theorized that people experienced dissonance between the conflicting cognitions, "I told someone that the task was interesting", and "I actually found it boring." When paid only $1, students were forced to internalize the attitude they were induced to express, because they had no other justification. Those in the $20 condition, however, had an obvious external justification for their behavior, and thus experienced less dissonance.[13]

A variant of the induced-compliance paradigm is the forbidden toy paradigm. An experiment by Aronson and Carlsmith in 1963 examined self-justification in children.[14] In this experiment, children were left in a room with a variety of toys, including a highly desirable toy steam-shovel (or other toy). Upon leaving the room, the experimenter told half the children that there would be a severe punishment if they played with that particular toy and told the other half that there would be a mild punishment. All of the children in the study refrained from playing with the toy. Later, when the children were told that they could freely play with whatever toy they wanted, the ones in the mild punishment condition were less likely to play with the toy, even though the threat had been removed. The children who were only mildly threatened had to justify to themselves why they did not play with the toy. The degree of punishment by itself was not strong enough, so the children had to convince themselves that the toy was not worth playing with in order to resolve their dissonance.[14]

END WIKI

———————————————–

The Drug Warrior class seeks to perpetuate the drug war by instilling fear of "marijuana" in the children of our society. Drug educational policies (such as "Just Say No") purposely implant a psychological conflict in children about the use of Cannabis. "Society" (in the form of a political policy)wants children to "believe" in the myth that "marijuana is bad."

And children DO believe it!

The cognitive dissonance created by anti-drug programs is resolved in some of these children by their "hating" Cannabis in the same way that the children in the experiment above chose to dislike the toy they were warned against touching. When these programmed kids grow to adults, they may end up having a gut reaction against "pot" and feel justified in dehumanizing its users and advocates.

I have been thinking about your question for a while. I translated your observation to say that some people are downright "prejudiced" against Cannabis users. I think cognitive dissonance is the key to understanding prohibitionist psychology.

Cheers

rose jeri <s..s@a2c2.us> Apr 11 07:45PM

ON the court granting a religious exemption to the Native Americans for cannabis use and the nature of the legal opposition we face in response to my assertion that if Native Ams are permitted, then Roger Christie also must be or they risk creating a racial biased privilege:

Absolutely Jeri, though I think a substantive legal argument involving individual spirituality has yet to be made in federal court, and needs to be. Joining a group "church" is fine for some people, but joining a group should not be/is NOT …a prerequisite for legitimate spiritual practice, or the First Amendment Constitutional protection, that secures the "religious" use of Cannabis.

The California Cannabis Ministry is meant to serve all individuals AND groups, by reaffirming the legitimacy of everyone's individual spiritual practice. Apparently, group religions, such as the Hawaiian Cannabis Ministry can be judged and denied legitimacy by the court. An individual practice cannot be judged unless their is an injured party, ie The Golden Rule is violated.

Whether Native American, Rastafarian, Agnostic, Atheist, Christian, Druid, Pagan or Jew…ALL individual people experience an individual relationship with whatever dynamic (ie "God", "Shiva", "Big Bang"… ) created the world. Whatever people choose to believe, Cannabis serves in many ways, from conception to death, to accentuate beneficial relationship with our bodies, our thinking and all of our sensory experiences in the world. Integral to all of our experiences (spiritual or otherwise) is the necessity of eating foods that provide essential nutrition and endocannabinoid stimulation for metabolic processes prerequisite to physically carrying out any activity, including our spiritual practice. To say it another way, eating is integral to all spiritual/non-spiritual activity. Thanksgiving for the harvest is a multi-cultural tradition that recognizes that significance, and the blessings of living within the miraculous system of life. What people fail to realize is that the system is breaking down, for lack of appreciation. Disrespect for the Natural Order, (as demonstrated by clear-cutting of forests, burning of fossil fuels, development of radioactive materials, GMOs and chemical agriculture), has severed spiritual relationship with something we don't fully understand. Honoring Cannabis as sacrament is the most direct and sincere expression of respect for the Creator, since the spiritless forces who impose prohibition of it have proven their inviability by destroying Earth's functional integrity.

What it comes down to essentially, is whether or not our species chooses to survive, or become extinct. If we choose to survive, then we'd better start planting hemp this spring, and praying we're not too late to prevent irreversible global broiling of the planet by increasing UV-B radiation.

rose jeri <s..s@a2c2.us> Apr 11 08:31PM

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Press Release: DOJ Violating Our "First Freedom"

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Press Release: DOJ Violating Our "First Freedom"

Roger Christie must be released from prison immediately and his oppressors identified and immobilized.

The First Amendment of the United States Constitution is under attack, and if people let the Reverend Roger Christie languish in prison, then you will "reap what you sow" in the execution of what has historically been legally secured as the "First Freedom" in our American spiritual culture.

Our individual spiritual evolution is being attacked by people who have lost their connection to the Natural Order. Disrespect for Cannabis and the people who find essential value in it violates "natural, god-given, inalienable" rights.

No matter what you believe about Cannabis, or why you believe it, the fact remains that every negative experience anyone has ever had with 'marijuana' has happened in the context of the so-called "drug war."

What "defines" a true religion is you are entitled to believe anything you want, as long as it doesn't harm anyone else. That's called the Golden Rule.

The THC Minstry is consistent with that rule. No harm done — in fact quite the opposite– there's enormous benefit to the Big Island community resulting from Roger's Ministry and Cannabis educators who learn about the wonders of Cannabis from Roger. The NIDA itself reported the increase in hard drug use in the absence of an abundant pakalolo supply.

Everything else aside, you can't hold someone in prison without bail for their religious belief. It isn't okay to dismiss his peaceful religious beliefs before he's been tried.

The "religious" leaders who ought to be in prison are the ones who support Godless behavior including endless wars against the only common seed with three essential fatty acids, the best available source of organic vegetable protein on Earth and the only crop that produces biofuels and a complete food from the same harvest while generating a year-round river of "monterpenes" into the atmosphere to protect the planet against solar radiation, while re-mineralizing depleted farmlands, stopping soil erosion, expanding the arable base, producing oxygen, sequestering carbon, detoxifying air land and water, providing herbal therapeutics for free and making it possible for humanity to achieve sustainable existence within a functional Natural Order.

The people who are violating your and my freedom of religion right now by emprisoning Roger Christie, are directed by the same horrifyingly immoral regime that violates the Geneva Conventions, wire-taps your phone, wages wars for "petropoison" and proliferates the use of depleted uranium munitions, while imposing essential agricultural resource scarcity on a world on the verge of synergistic collapse of environment, economics and social structures..

Besides, Cannabis has been scientifically proven beyond doubt to be good for your health in many ways. It's The Lie of Two Centuries that THC, CBDs, CBNs or any other component of the Cannabis plant is harmful to the human body.

What's true is that, that the best 'medicine' is the one that's available for free from God, that keeps you from getting sick in the first place.

Roger Christie has been a friend of mine for almost twenty years. I think Roger would permit me to say, he and I have worked closely to help ourselves and others appreciate and recognize the spiritual legitimacy of the world's oldest global culture.

Truly, Roger Christie is first of all a man of peace. I can promise you that this man is sincere and tremendously insightful in awakening people's latent spiritual regard for the Cannabis plant. Not just the smoking of "pot" but the environmental benefits, nutritional and industrial uses as well.

Secondly, I can promise that Roger is NO flight risk. He's been single-handedly taking on the defense of the Big Island for more than two decades, and what would make anybody think that Roger would run. He never has and he's not about to be chased off by this cowardly enforcement act now.

Roger's got more "coconuts" than all 150 of the DEA peace invaders they sent to violate the First Amendment put together. Let Roger out of jail and quit worrying his Mom Doris, who must be praying up a storm right now. I certainly pray for Roger's release and will my spirit to him so that he find strength from the air we breath that connects us

Freedom to farm is the first test of religious freedom. You may not like what I grow, but it doesn't mean I won't defend the ancient, spiritually legitimate individual relationship humankind has had with the planting of "every herb bearing seed."

You may not appreciate the importance of Cannabis seed nutrition and the enormous harms imposed by banning the world's most potentially abundant, globally distributed, environmentally beneficial and industrially useful crop, but I understand it and Roger Christie understands it, and our lifelong commitment to learning, contemplating and sharing the love and apprciation we feel in our hearts for the Cannabis plant forces us to reject government the presupposed unaccountable jurisdiction of any court over any natural resource which is BOTH unique and essential.

Cannabis isn't illegal. It's essential. Our forefathers didn't sacrifce so much for the freedom to complain. The economically biased, corporately corrupted US court will force feed us all chemicals and problems because the solutions they sell are expensive, don't work, and the problems are endlessly profitable.

Aloha to all from the heart of my brother-in-spirit, Reverend Roger Christie. He has given generously from his heart, to the people of Hawaii and the world. It is now time for We the People to stand up and say once and for all time, love is the limit of law.

I support and agree with the comments made by Lavonne; we (community) need to consolidate priorities and get back to the root of the movement; which is the patient. The priority needs to shift from passing vague and unenforceable law under the guise of tax regulation; instead focus on getting our people out of jail; and stop others from going to jail. If we leave our hero's to rot in jail; who will be left to proclaim, "Its (still) worth fighting for."

Colorado

On Tue, Apr 10, 2012 at 7:39 PM, Axis of Love SF, Shona Gochenaur <

rose jeri <s..s@a2c2.us> Apr 11 06:59AM

The impact of boreal deforestation on climate change is vastly under-reported or considered as a factor in "Gaiatherapeutic" crop selection. Increasing UV-B radiation (contributing to global warming and other unintended consequences), is partly the result of a 50% boreal deforestation, with a proportionate reduction in atmospheric aerosol ("monoterpene") content, historically exuded into the stratosphere by the boreal forests.

The only crop that produces sufficient quantities of monoterpenes in the time frame required is currently prohibited in the US and other countries where it could be grown to produce complete nutrition and sustainable biofuels from the same harvest. Because of political prejudice, a major "strategic" resource is not even being considered as a proportionate global response to climate imbalance.

On March 16th, 2012, President Obama joined with six other American Presidents in recognizing the "strategic food resource" value of "hemp" in an Executive Order providing for Emergency Preparedness. Included is the reference to "essential civilian demand" mentioned as a means of accessing strategic resources. The importance of hemp as an agricultural response to increasing UV-B radiation has yet to be recognized or factored into strategic thinking let alone policy making.

So this super awesome little old lady was arrested for weed in Oklahoma. She is being helpd on $20,000 bond at the age of 73. Thinking of passing the hat around to spring her, as I think it would just be good PR showing the absurdity of the Drug War, when these guys have spent 5 months investigating granny for weed sales….It is TOO perfect not to exploit, but I think we need to get her out of jail first and foremost. I got $100 on it. We should only need $2k for a bail bondsman:). This kind of story makes me laugh and cry all at the same time.

VINITA – A Craig County drug task force serving a search warrant late Monday seized about $277,000 in cash from the home of a 73-year-old woman, Craig County Sheriff Jimmie Sooter said.

Darlene Mayes was booked into the county jail about 11:45 p.m. on complaints that included possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and maintaining a dwelling where drugs are.

“She didn’t say much,” Sooter said of Mayes, a retired Department of Human Services worker. “She said the money was hers, that it was for retirement. Of course, once we got into it, it was pretty obvious it wasn’t hers.”

The task force served the warrant at a residence about six miles east of Vinita on U.S. 60, Sooter said. Recovered from the home were four pounds of marijuana, two pistols and $221,550 in cash found in a sack with the drugs, Sooter said. Another $53,020 was located in the back seat of a vehicle, and Mayes also had a substantial amount of cash on her person, the sheriff said.

The task force, made up of members of the Sheriff’s Office, Vinita Police Department and Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, had been gathering information for a search warrant for about five months, Sooter said.

Can someone in the LA area do me a favor — I am now putting together a website on Medical Cannabis Studies and government related censorship.

Here the subject being a Rand Corporation study on crime and the closing of Cannabis dispensaries. Anyway, try as I might I can't seem to contact the author of the study (which was censored at the request of the LAPD) — something is wrong with the phone system etc.

So I was hoping that one of you out there [area code 310] can just call the author up and ask tell her is she could make contact via email or something — note, no one is responding to my emails either, but that could just be because they think it is junk mail.

I won't take that much time and I can use the help. – contact me and I'll send you her phone number. — note it is a public number.

• "The bill would preempt local laws regarding the regulation and control of medical marijuana and would prohibit a medical marijuana facility, as defined, from operating without state-approved registration, except as specified."

• "A state board shall be created to regulate and control the MANDATORY REGISTRATION [emphasis added] of all individuals and entities involved in the commercial cultivation, processing, manufacturing, testing, transportation, distribution, and sale of medical marijuana in this state."

• "A mandatory registration application or renewal shall be approved unless the board determines that any of the following are true: (1) An applicant, or the medical marijuana facility location for which the applicant is applying for mandatory registration, fails to meet the requirements of this article OR ANY REGULATION PROMULGATED PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE [emphasis added].

That last provision is a blank check for open-ended regulation and denial of registration for pretty much any reason this politically-appointed board might come up with, given that it would have a mandate to "Adopt, amend, and rescind reasonable regulations, special rulings, and findings as necessary for the regulation and control of the cultivation, processing, manufacturing, testing, transportation, distribution, and sale of medical marijuana."

We know public opinion is moving in the direction of more support for ending the Drug War and re-legalizing cannabis. So why would we, at this juncture, want to create a new state-level agency that would prohibit people from just opening up shop as a local dispensary, even if their local community is fine with it, unless they go through a bureaucratic process controlled by Sacramento with no limits on how complex or burdensome it could become?

And for what? AB 2312 won't get the Feds off the backs of Californians, but it could forcibly shut down hundreds of dispensaries. So that providing cannabis can become as proportionally onerous as running a lemonade stand in New York City?

Here's the letter, if you choose to send it, make sure it has his information, read the entire letter and erase or add information as needed. Wherein it doesn't apply to him, simply do the same. Where you see references to State names change it to the applicable on he was picked up in. Be sure to have the arresting officers info to fill in those blanks as well. SEND CERTIFIED MAIL, you can go down to the post office and get the slips and before you send it write or type the certified number from the slip on the letter it's self, keep in your records the slip, receipt, and copy of letter. Uppercase and lower case names are very important, so where you see those in the letter, write it that way.FACTS are just that, FACTS, not assumptions.This letter is an example of how you address these people, HOLD THEM TO THEIR OATHS!! I hope this helps. Blessings upon you as well..

Sent from my iPhone

Sjss <s..s@a2c2.us> Apr 11 05:15PM -0700

You make some good points Judy, it wasn't my intent to disregard nor belittle the injustices that are being committed here. I think that people who do THINK and are aware of their STANDING in this country will NEVER contract with these courts and their thugs who are paid to make sure you lose. Blacks Law Dictionary defines one who needs an attorney as an imbecile, a child, one who cannot make competent deceisions concerning their affairs. What leg do you think we have in these one sided courts to stand on? We have the patriot act, NDAA, the income tax, 14th Amendment status, and on and on, so yes I, including you and everyone else, don't have rights in the realm and world of statutes and codes, we MUST drive these types of arguements into Article 3 courts where we can win. There is a huge difference between LAWFUL and LEGAL! The responsibility I speak of is the knowledge of your STANDING and what to do LAWFULLY to get remedy and satisfaction. I'll send you an example of a letter sent to a police officer over a simple traffic stop, but most, not saying you in particular, don't realize the power we have because day in and day out, it is the job of the system [ system is an anceint roman word for sewer no less] to make us believe we are powerless. Stand by,….. and for God's sake NO! I am not a mobile taxing unit aka, police officer…

Since Prop 215 came about, the co authers put this together for the well being of those whom benifit from the use of cannabis for medical purposes… for those citizens whom were seriously ill or facing challenges with their illness. since then.. there has been many challenges that has been faced over the years, and thru the expence of those citizens whom faced the court system behind the passing of Prop 215… the price that they paid in order to utalize cannabis for their medical relief…

Some say it is the responsiblity of that person, whom is in jail, or facing prison time, or facing the courts behind the use of their cannabis for their medical use.. but in fact it is the reponsibility of the organizations whom have put this law into statute to protect these citizens whom utalize cannabis for their medical needs… after all.. they have wrote the law and put it into Statue…

Now in this present time of the Reality that faces us.. the activist of the movement are more concern about getting this law legalized for all personal adult use… or more concern about keeping the store fronts open instead of the welfare of their citizens .. not just for their medical needs, but for what most are facing in the legalities of the court room… and there is not one organiztion that is willing to stand by most of these people whom are in the pit of hell behind the use of cannabis… even though these organizations and these store fronts bring in thousands of dollars for their events, for many other fun events that they hold… Cannabis Cup, Convention Events.. Comedy shows, need i go on?…

But for those whom are facing the court system.. who's life is in the hands of Justice behind this issue… there is no real concern for those in the hot seat behind the cannabis issue… only for those these organizations party with or see on a daily basic… but have these organiztions forgotton about those others outside whom utalize cannabis for medical proposes? Or those whom are facing the courts due to the educational tools that these organizations put forth?

We all ualize cannabis for one purpose or another.. but to disregard a citizens whom is facing the court system behind this issue while others are having a great time and raising funds to pass more intitatives is a devestating thing to see, especially while others are suffering behind the legalities of this issue… and receive no support of any kind from those in the Activist movement of the cannabis world…

For those whom have passed this law, and made it possible to pass this law for citizens to utalize cannabis , now in this reality only care about thier own agenda's and putting new intitiatives on the ballet, or trying to … are not concern about those whom are in the shitter… and then you say.. its their personal choice?…

when you have someone in the group, that is facing the court system… you support them.. but that is not true…there are many in this movement that are liers, con artist, and use others to get what they want… but when it comes to having a good time.. everyone is there to support the event… but when it comes to someone facing the court system, wheater you know this person or not… there is none… or there is only support for those whom are liked, and non for those you do not like or not know….

Most are winning about having the store fronts closing, and patients out on the black market… well.. the black market is not those whom are not connected with the store fronts, there are many whom do provide for themselves and also provide in an associated garden whom do not want nothing to do with these activist groups anymore due to the bias greed behind this cannabis movement…. it is broken in two.. or torn apart .. and no one gives a rats ass about a person that is facing the courts or facing deportation , or even care if a person has served their country that is facing trial behind the use of cannabis for medical use… what is wrong with this picture…

We have so many organizations out there.. and all they care about is passing a new intitiative to make it legal for all adult use… but they can not take care of the issues that is behind the laws already in place for medical use.. and in my opion i don't think that they give a hoot…

The king has died.. and unless you put forth all your efforts into this movement, and be involved with the events, with the groups, with the store fronts enities, and put your own life on hold then your accepted into the circle… but if you have a difference of opions, and are not involved in the circle , but utalize cannabis for your medical purposes, your not worth nothing to anyone and your not supported… unless your new.. and then these new people are taken in by the glory of the entertainment behind this movent..but if they are in trouble for following what they were told that they were allowed to do.. then your shit out of luck… and then no one wants anything to do with you…

There are many personalities of the human race.. and we all have our likes and dislikes and we all have opions.. some are dooers, while others are followers, some are homebound, or too sick to do anything at all, or have responsiblities that are in need of priority, but then you have others whom are young, young at heart, whom are able to do , and work and play.. in this movement… but then you have those whom believe what you tell them and then go in dis belief when they are raided by our law enfocement or by our federal and then no one is there to support them.. and they all disapear out of site… and i am not talking about Richard Lee, or the others at the top of this movement.. i am talking about the citizens whom believe that they are able to do this by those whom educate them, and get them involved within this movement… whom are not in the financial situations as those at the top of the cannabis chain….

When you serve your country, and you utalize cannabis for your medical needs behind this issue… then everyone in this movement should come forth and show support… after all.. our country men whom died for us , whom served our country to protect our citizens in our country deserve more respect then the rest… and deserve to be top priorty then all the rest.. not a oh well.. so what.. it was his choice and now its his shit… what the F…..

Those whom put this law in statute, have put many in the frying pan… not just the law enfocement or drug enforcement agencies whom go against this stateu of law when it comes to cannabis… whom take the rights away from the citizens whom utalize cannabis under the laws of this state.. that is a different enity outside of this issue…

This issue is about the saftey of those whom utalize cannabis.. whom grow for themselfes, whom go from home to home to help others get relief… has nothing to do with sales, of cannabis, nothing to do with store fronts issue.. this is the welfare of a citizen whom has served our country , whom has been in the United States for many many years, has papers to prove that he is a citizen of the United States that is being abused and used by the system all due to cannabis… that he uses for medical purpose under the laws of this state….

If the laws are going to change,, it has to start with the issues that we are already facing.. if you can not fix the laws that are already in statue in this state.. then my question to you all in this movement is how are you going to pass another intiative for all adult use when you can not even deal with this law already in place…

Its not your pocketbooks that need to be filled , its the life of all cannabis patients whom are citizens whom are facing the frying pan whom need the support of these big organizations like Norml, ASA, and many other groups out there whom are able to raise thousands of dollars to support their intiatiatives that will only cause more harm then good.. For if you can not find unity amounst the hardship of those whom are facing the courts behind this issue.. then this will be taken away from all of us whom benifit from the use of cannabis for what ever purpose many may have… for if you do not care enough to help another person in need.. then those whom see this will not support you at all in your quest for lealization….. if you have no concern for the welfare of those whom face the courts behind the issue of cannabis… then why should we… have concern to support these intitiatives… while many lives are at stake…

There are many attorneys out there.. whom are benifiting big time behind this issue and making a killing off the profits that they recevie behind these court case.. but only for those whom have the monies to put forth, while those whom do not are being sent down the river without a paddle… without the compassion behind this movement… there is no movement any more.. only those whom want to make a profit off of those whom fill their store with moneis to receive., safe access to their cannabis to fit their needs… without those people whom put forth the monies, without those growers whom fill your stores, your nothing… without the citizens whom give you monies toward those intitiatives that the top dogs want to pass for their own agendas while tearing the rights of others away… your nothing….

For years on end.. i supported the cannabis movement… now all i see is self gloryfying and greed… I am not the only one that have served time in this movement that sees this.. there are many whom have had their eyes open to the real truth behind the agendas of many in this movement.. unless your in the circle your nothing to these organizations.. unless your putting your time and energy into this movement your nothing…

sick and tired of the movement whom say that they are for the welfare of their cannabis communtiy when they are not.. they are only concern about how much monies that they need to keep the store open and the bills paid… instead of the needs of those whom are really in need of help …..

inspite of all this… that i have put forth…. i believe that cannabis works for many in this movement but i also beleive that the prority behind this movement has stepped of the given path… you want unity and support.. well it goes both ways… in order to get unity and support of those many on the other side of the coin… from the medical cannabis community… from those whom are sick.. whom are terminally ill.. whom knows cannabis works… you also need to show support for those in need when they face the trials of the court system… not only for a few.. but for all citizens whom utalize cannabis….. THE COMPASIONATE USE ACT……..

If not.. there is no cannabis movement …. … only those whom only want to party and get high, whom are able to walk, and talk, and juggle, and smoke, for utalization of legalization… not for the medical use of cannabis for those whom benifit from the use of it for their well being……and i am a citizen of this beautiful United States… I am a voter… and i have been on both side of the coin….

These pateints whom face the court system need the support of all the organizations in this movement… if you can not give this to them… then.. you have shown me your true colors… and your greed, and your uncompassioante voice toward those whom are in the fying pan of hell facing the courts… i beleived in this movement 12 years ago.. and i believed in the compassionate use behind this issue… but now… i am not so sure any more….its bad enough we are having issues with other issues in our country.. but to turn against those in need…is a very very sad thing indeed….to turn our backs on those whom face the court system behind the use of cannabis… due to their financial issues… they can not be helped.. only those whom have the finacial backing can hire the best… but not for those whom can not…

and to turn your back on an Activist whom is also a Vet.. in the US Army… just shows how much this movement cares ..

huh? Whats confusing here ? Its pretty striaght up writing. I undertsand the frustration contained within. I have this say lavonne thank you for sharing your heartfelt prespective. I think patient advocates need to constantly define the different roles we play within this arena . Define to supprotive govt the difference btwn industry lobbyist and patient advocates. I beleive in equity. And widening the circle not marginalization . Ofcourse to a degree it all about the haves and have nots . Both those with privegde and without must demand balance at every policy table , court room and comunity center. Again thank you lavonne for honesty and care .

GReat news? Right? So then it goes from comittee straight to assembly floor? For vote? Hows the floor vote shaping up?I got your txt and willbe calling thrusday? Weve exprienced a loss in the patient comunity and for nxt 48 hrs will be preparing memorial services. Thank you for prompt response to concerns.

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Hi I use Henry Levy in Oakland and attended his 280e seminar with atty. Henry Wykowski (SF) and Steve DeAngelo. Great seminar. Henry (Hank) and I have talked about what kind of accountant to use and he says just to use any experienced one. he will, at the end of the year, take all the expenses and put them in catagories that comply with the Champ decision. I found one with lots of business experience (but not with disensaries.) I may use her- she's nice and willing. Said it'll cost about $300/mo. Let me know if you want her name? She's in Sta Rosa. Karen PS we open next week!

Picking ourselves up and dusting ourselves off…. Posted by Mickey Martin on April 10th, 2012 It is easy to let the overwhelming battle of cannabis prohibition knock us down. We are fighting immeasurable ignorance and inherent evil in our quest to free a safe, enjoyable, and helpful plant from the clutches of tyranny. Many are in shock from the crackdown that started in October. Our Federal Government has decided to trample state’s rights and the kicker is that they are now doing zoning and code enforcement. Meanwhile Rome is burning. Our economy is still somewhat in the shitter, gun violence is rampant, people are literally starving in our streets, our education system sucks, our infrastructure is crumbling, and a hell of a lot of people do not have healthcare, or are one injury away from being bankrupt from our shitty healthcare system. Big businesses lobbyists and those who would rather be uber-rich than live in a world where everyone had a fair shake, seem to be running our society into the ground to increase their profits. It is an ass-backward existence no doubt, and to put the icing on the cake, we have spend trillions of dollars enforcing laws against people who use cannabis. We have seen our local police forces militarized to a point of intimidation in the name of a failed war on drugs. We have locked up innumerable amount of our neighbors (mostly poor people) to justify the spending of resources on more cops, more guns, more helicopters, more SWAT team gear, more manpower, and more bullshit to fight a war that will NEVER be won. It is the most fucking insane bullshit ever, and I just cannot wrap my fucking head around it. So when they came in to Oakland last week with their par-military Federal sideshow and stormed Oaksterdam with a force of Feds that matched Waco, it was a clear sign that this battle was pretty fucking far from over. It was disheartening and demoralizing for so many reasons, but the biggest is because we all believed we were beyond this shit. Some thought the age of Obama would usher in new understanding and that a more sensible approach would lead to greater understanding and acceptance; and for a while it seemed like it had. In October of 2009, the now infamous “Ogden Memo” was released, sending a signal to the community that there was some level of acceptance that would be tolerated, and that those in “clear and unambiguous compliance with State law” would be left alone. This sparked a series of expansions in the industry, including the State of Colorado passing their entire regulation model, cities and counties passing ordinances, and states like Arizona, Rhode Island, and New Jersey developing regulatory systems for access to cannabis. People believed that if the states authorized it that the Feds would take a step back and allow for the market to flourish…and it did, for a while. The industry grew by leaps and bounds and people found a renewed sense of legitimacy that made people come out of hiding, advertise their goods and services, and push the envelopes of what was allowable under these new guidelines. It would seem the Feds opened Pandora’s box with their silly memo; and after the effects began to take hold, they decided they had made a huge mistake and now are scrambling to put the genie back in the bottle. Good luck with that. So now they have began to senselessly attack an industry that they helped create, and seem to be determined to scare the shit out of people who provide cannabis. They have succeeded in crippling some of our best operators and have worked to close down some of the industry’s most storied organizations. Why? Who the fuck knows, really? I quit trying to figure out what the Feds are up to a long time ago. I am not sure they even fucking know any more. They seem to be throwing shit at the wall to see what sticks, and they have created more chaos, confusion and real crime in the process. Their coordinated crackdown has struck at the core of the medical cannabis movement, with the Oaksterdam raids marking the “Oh Shit” mark for many. They have succeeded, if nothing else, in making many of us question the future of the movement and our own survival in it. We have had our ass kicked a little over the past few months and took a direct shot to the chin on Good Monday. But we are fighters. We have come to far to surrender now. It is time for this movement to get up, dust ourselves off, and get ready for battle. These assholes know that their days of kicking in people’s doors for plants are limited, as our society continues to question the validity of their failed War on Drugs. They are hiding behind bad law and a war on drugs that was instituted by Richard Nixon, our Nation’s most corrupt President ever. Way to go assholes. Keep Nixon’s lies and deceit alive with your continued ignorance. These idiots have managed to corrupt our society and fleece Americans for billions to fund their failure, as they wage war on innocent and harmless drug users. They have made criminals out of an alarming amount of our neighbors, as the US has 25% of the world population for prisoners, while we only have 5% of the world’s population. That is a BIG fucking problem and one that continues to cost us dearly in the form of increased enforcement costs and a society of disenfranchised people who have been marginalized by a system of intolerance. It is simply unacceptable and it is up to us to stay the course and end this bullshit once and for all. So the time for belly-aching and crying over spilled milk has past. Get the fuck up, dust yourself off, and get back to work. There are millions of our fellow countrymen depending on us to end this thing once and for all and to restore sanity to the American landscape. We will never be able to do that by sulking and feeling sorry for ourselves. We are better than that. WE ARE RIGHT. THEY ARE WRONG. Never forget that. So when the road less traveled seems too hard or too difficult, just remember that you are fighting for millions of people who do not have a voice. You are fighting for the patient who cannot use cannabis in Tennessee, and the kid who will lose his college money for weed in Michigan, and the mother who lost her baby to prison because he sold some marijuana, and the parents who had their children taken because they used cannabis, and the carpenter from Idaho who lost his job because of using pot. There is SO much at stake in this battle that we cannot afford to turn back now. We cannot give an inch in our quest for cannabis freedom and sensible drug policy. We must put one foot in front of the other and carry on. We are winning, and we must not let up for a minute. It is go time. Never let the assholes kill your spirit or make you second guess your role in this battle. We are the one’s we have been waiting for, so get to fucking work because there is a hell of a lot of work to do. I will see you at the finish line. I will bring the doobies. WOOOOOOOSH! Buy the ticket. Take the ride. >-Hunter S. Thompson

Dear Friends, , See article below about an important hearing this Thursday. Also, there will be a Silent Action from 4-6 PM beforehand, to remember those impacted by the Drug War, in front of SF City Hall. Please bring a memento or photo of a loved one who has been hurt by drug policies for the silent protest. The public will have an opportunity to speak for two minutes during the public comment section, if you'd like to say something there.

<http://sfbayview.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/The-War-on-Drugs-is-a-war– on-us.jpg> Coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the War on Drugs, on Thursday, April 12, 2012, at 5:30 p.m. in Room 250 of City Hall, the San Francisco Human Rights Commission (HRC) will join the national conversation on drug enforcement policies and practices in the United States by hosting a public hearing entitled ³The Human Rights Impact of the War on Drugs.² Taking place at San Francisco City Hall, this public hearing will focus on the impact the War on Drugs has had in San Francisco and document testimony from affected community members, criminal justice experts, direct service providers and community-based organizations on this critical issue.

Last year, on April 14, 2011, the Human Rights Commission voted unanimously to join the Reentry Council of San Francisco and send a letter to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and the mayor urging them to develop and enact legislation to prohibit discrimination in San Francisco against people with prior arrests and/or convictions ­ many of whom are low-income people of color targeted in their communities by discriminatory police practices.

For example, in California, African Americans are 10 times more likely than whites to be imprisoned for possession of marijuana, despite similar drug use rates across color lines. In 2006, African Americans were arrested in San Francisco for drug offenses at five times the rate of African Americans statewide and at 16 times the rate of other races in the City. Young African American women ages 10-29 were 12 to 21 times more likely to be arrested for drug felonies. When compared to women of other races in their age groups, African American women ages 18-69 were 25 to 30 times more likely to be arrested for drugs. In 2006, African Americans were arrested in San Francisco for drug offenses at five times the rate of African Americans statewide and at 16 times the rate of other races in the City. The hearing will examine the lifetime impact of drug conviction on employment, housing opportunities, education, family, community and access to health programs. As the result of a felony conviction, people are ineligible to vote while they are in prison, ineligible for public housing and food stamps for the rest of their lives, unable to receive federal financial aid for college, and subject to legalized discrimination in employment, housing, and parental rights, among other impairments.

<http://sfbayview.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/War-on-Drugs-cartoon-by-Kh alil-Bendib.jpg> ³This hearing is a part of our continuing effort to conduct education and outreach on the ŒUnfinished Agenda¹ report and the discrimination against people with criminal records and its disproportionate impact on the African American and Latino communities,² said Commissioner Sheryl Evans Davis. ³We¹re finding a lot of people want more accurate information, particularly about drug arrests and convictions. Through this hearing and the report that will follow, we hope to parse out concerns, myths, biases and facts about the criminalization of drugs.²

According to Executive Director Theresa Sparks, ³Across the country, religious leaders, community organizations, public safety experts, Republicans and Democrats are examining how effective the War on Drugs has been. People are asking questions about the impact it has had on families, crime, neighborhoods and civil rights. We hope to explore those impacts in this hearing.²

The HRC has invited speakers from the American Civil Liberties Union, the Youth Commission, All of Us or None, the S.F. Drug Users¹ Union, the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights and the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, among others, to attend and give testimony. In addition, the HRC is actively seeking community members to share their stories and recommendations in public comment.

During public comment, anyone who shows up and fills out a comment card will be given two minutes to air their views to all present, including all of the Human Rights Commissioners and influential community leaders the HRC has invited to attend. If you¹re not able to make it to the hearing, consider submitting written testimony. This testimony will be used after the hearing in preparation for a report the HRC will present with recommendations to the City. Written Testimony Forms are available upon request and will be available at the hearing.

interesting useful and good suggestion to sit down w your collectives legalteam!

Greetings Colleagues –

In the 11th hour AB 2312 has been pulled from the calendar for tomorrow April 10, 2012, and will be heard next week. I believe I misspoke last message; the bill is being heard in the Assembly's public safety committee. Contact info below:

I encourage you to share the text of this bill with your attorney(s) and learn how this proposed law may affect your collective. In municipalities that lack regulation, state rules would become the default. The requisite article states "a medical marijuana facility may not operate until it has filed. . . and the board has approved…"

The bill lacks language to address situations where a municipality's regulations have been deemed unlawful or situations where collectives have a settlement agreement as a result of lawsuits and what legal status those entities would have within this proposed law. (The bill grandfathers facilities in good standing with their local regulations.)

There is also the matter of the federal government. When Oakland tried to regulate gardens, city officials were threatened by US Attorneys. Mendocino suspended its plant registration program as a result of federal threats. It will be interesting to see if our State legislature is threatened for moving this bill forward.

I say the very bad items outweigh the very good items enough so that i believe we as collectives should give it a pass; and work for something more favorable. Why give up the high ground until we know what the Supreme's are thinking?